History of the discovery of the musculocutaneous flap method as a universal and immediate substitute for the method of delay

Abstract

In the years that have passed since my 1972 publication, the number of musculocutaneous flaps used can be counted by the many articles on musculocutaneous flaps that have been published in scientific journals. Surgery has become easier, quicker, with less hazard, suffering or pain for the patient, with more certain results and less worry for the surgeon. The incidence of flap necrosis has fallen remarkably. The huge effort to increase circulation in cutaneous flaps or tubes with multiple delay procedures which lasted weeks or even months, is now a thing of the past and should be relegated to the medical history books! I tell this story of the discovery of the method of the musculocutaneous flap because it is not well known. Those surgeons who are engaged in our specialty, especially if they are young, will enjoy reading it and find it of practical interest. When a physician has a patient who is very seriously ill and has no surgical means or medicament to cure him, he should always observe him. On many occasions he will find that his suffering is relieved.